If you want to try growing an unusual plant in your garden, experts advise paying attention to ombalo - pennyroyal. This name for the plant is common in Georgia; in other countries, “flea beetle” is more often used. The aromatic herbs are used as a seasoning and used to prepare various culinary dishes.
Variety specifics
Flea mint belongs to the Lamiaceae family, being a perennial herbal plant. The height of the shoots reaches 25-30 cm. Unlike others mint varieties The culture has a rounded leaf shape.The plates are wide, wrinkled, curly and have slight pubescence. A feature of the culture is its long flowering period, which begins in June and continues until frost. Inflorescences are formed in dense, almost spherical rings. At the time of flowering they have a pink-purple hue with a white tube. The advantage of flea beetles is their high rooting ability. The plant is characterized by a creeping type of growth. It is considered an excellent honey plant.
Greens are used as a seasoning, and the application is quite broad. Residents of Turkmenistan add flea beetle when stewing lamb, in Armenia for pickled cheeses, in Georgia for sauces. The greens are also used as a natural insect repellent. Due to its high content of essential oils, mint is used in the field of cosmetology.
In traditional medicine recipes, it is credited with wound-healing, antiseptic and abortifacient properties.
Conditions for plant growth
Under natural conditions, the plant develops in floodplain meadows and on river banks. This culture can be found in Asia, Crimea, the Caucasus and Turkmenistan. Ombalo belongs to the category of heat-loving crops, therefore, if it is insufficient, productivity indicators decrease.
When to plant a crop
The plant is grown by sowing seeds in the ground, using the seedling method and by dividing the rhizome. The latter method allows you to quickly propagate the crop and significantly increase the planting area in a short time. Plants are divided from the beginning of spring. The most popular seed varieties are Pennyroyal and Pulegium.
Some gardeners practice growing mint in pots.
Planting time is determined depending on the climatic conditions of the region; for central Russian territories this is mid-spring.
Preparation of planting material
Mint seeds are quite small, so growing this way requires some skill. It is recommended to plant planting material in sandy soil to ensure better germination. After sowing, cover with film and place in a lighted place. On average, after 15 days the first shoots appear, at which point the film is removed.
When using the division method, adult plants with a well-formed root system are selected for propagation. There should be no signs of putrefactive damage or other types of defects on the shoots. After digging, the bush is carefully divided so that each part has a sufficient number of roots and transplanted to a new place.
Site selection
For planting, choose open sunny places with sufficient light. The soil must be fertile. The soil is first prepared by digging well, no less than a spade's length. The remains of previous plants must be completely removed; in the fall, it is recommended to fertilize the planned planting site with manure at the rate of 3 kg per square meter.
Planting mint
The seedlings are transplanted to their permanent growing location after the threat of frost has passed.
The plant does not survive stress well and cannot tolerate temperatures dropping below 8 0C.
Planting is carried out in small holes, placing the roots directly with the soil from the growing container. The recommended distance between plants is 30 cm.
Mint care rules
Mint is not considered a high-maintenance crop.It is necessary to remove weeds, and when the top layer of soil hardens, loosening is carried out. If there is sufficient natural precipitation, the crop does not need to be watered; moistening is carried out as needed. During the season, 2 feedings are carried out with complex fertilizers.
Diseases
Mint is easily susceptible to fungal diseases. Shoots are often affected by rust or powdery mildew. The first is observed with excessive soil moisture, increased nitrogen content in the soil and cold weather. A preventative measure is to follow the rules of crop rotation and periodically replant mint bushes.
Pests
Cultivation can be complicated by pest infestations, since the aromatic seasoning appeals to many insects.
The main danger is associated with invasions of the following types of insects:
- aphids;
- spider mite;
- slugs;
- caterpillars;
- leaf beetle
It is impossible to use chemicals to control pests, so they take advantage of popular advice. To prevent and control insects, plantings are sprinkled with ash, treated with a solution of laundry soap, and washed with running water from a hose. The use of a solution based on garlic or celandine has a good effect.
Harvest and storage
Harvesting begins in June, when the greenery has formed in sufficient volume. The harvest is done by hand, selecting healthy foliage. You can store the herb as a dry seasoning or frozen. In the latter case, plastic bags are often used, into which mint greens, washed and sorted from garbage, are placed. For better storage, it is recommended to remove as much air as possible after placing the herb in the bag. This trick will also significantly save space in the freezer.
